Champagne is generally associated with feelings of euphoric excess and the special occasions that prompt them -- New Year's Eve celebrations, weddings, birthdays, promotions. Even if you're in the mood to splurge, a large crowd or a tight budget can prompt the pursuit of cheap Champagne. From France to Spain, Italy, and California, there's enough excellent bubbly to go around for $10 or less. The challenge lies in knowing what you're buying. We considered online reviews and ratings from a variety of sources and consulted a wine expert to come up with our top picks.

If you think cheap white wine is only for grandma's spritzer, think again. There's a white wine -- costing no more than $10 to satisfy almost anyone's palate. Inexpensive white wines can complement a range of foods, brighten up a lazy summer afternoon, and make an excellent substitute for pre-dinner cocktails. White wines typically present fruity and/or floral flavors and aromas, sometimes offer a bit of spice and earthiness, and range in sugar content from bone dry to dessert-level sweet. We've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, and awards, on top of expert advice, and suspect wine drinkers will find at least one selection to suit both their sipping preferences and their budget.

Who needs a premium red wine when a thoroughly respectable bottle costs $10 or less? Frugal quaffers who know even a little bit about wine and aren't afraid to go with what they like will find many such bottles. There are hundreds of cheap red wines out there -- some barely worth the few dollars you'd pay but many worth drinking. With so many styles, grape varieties, producers, and labels to choose among, shopping can be a challenge. To guide wine drinkers through the thicket, we've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, awards, and expert advice. We've also selected a wide array of other inexpensive red wines fit to serve with a meal, bring to a party, or sip over the course of a quiet evening.

With just about two weeks left till Christmas, many shoppers are scrambling to find just the right gift for everyone on their holiday lists. If you're among them, don't sweat it. Our latest buying guides are full of ideas, from cheap and easy items from the dollar store to gifts every foodie will love to useful stocking stuffers to gifts for pets, there's something for everyone. Still unsure? Our guide to stores with the most and least generous return policies can make purchasing any gift less stressful. And if all the running around this holiday season has you wondering just how many miles you're racking up, check out our guide to the best, cheap fitness trackers, which can also help focus your fitness goals in the new year. Also new on the blog this week: smart tax moves to make before year-end, how to put your family on a budget, incredible gingerbread house displays across the continent, and more. Updated Buying Guides: Best Cheap Champagne. A buying guide to cheap champagne -- more properly known as sparkling wine -- that can do a celebration proud for less than $10 a bottle. New and Updated Blog Posts: 19 Cheap Holiday Gifts for Pets. Here are 19 holiday gift ideas that furry friends are sure to appreciate. Pet owners will take delight in them, as well. 11 Hangover 'Cures' Debunked. All those alleged hangover cures are little more than myths. There's only one cheap and simple cure that works. Top Fitness Trackers Under $50 to Get You Moving. Get fitter faster with top-rated fitness trackers under $50. Measure calories and get motivated to be more active throughout the day with instant feedback. 25 Delectable Gifts Under $25 for Foodies. From onion goggles to truffle oil, these cheap and practical gifts will keep the gourmet sated and happily cooking all year long. 12 Stocking Stuffers They'll Actually Use. Don't waste money by waiting until the last minute to buy stocking stuffers. These great, practical ideas start as low as $2. 10 Smart Tax Moves to Make Before the End of the Year. Taking steps such as making charitable donations, contributing to a 401(k), and making an extra mortgage payment before the end of the year can help lower 2015 taxes. 10 Toast-Worthy Sparkling Wines for $10 or Less. Any of these 10 budget-priced and flavorful sparkling wines will add festive good cheer to holiday celebrations -- and also deserve a place at the table year-round. 11 Ways to Put Your Family on a Budget for the New Year. Start the new year right with these 11 budgeting tips to get your financial house in order and help your family get on the right path. 12 Holiday Gifts You Can Get at the Dollar Store. Whether you're shopping for family, friends, or co-workers, dollar stores are a convenient source for inexpensive holiday gifts. 16 Incredible Gingerbread House Displays That Are Worth a Trip. Elaborate and mostly edible, these 16 gingerbread houses are anything but tame. Plan a trip, check out the displays, and maybe even take a piece home. 25 Places to Go for Spectacular New Year's Eve Fireworks. Catch the New Year's Eve fireworks displays in these 25 places, many of which also host free and family-friendly activities to usher in 2017. Love Chocolate? 10 Places You Have to Try the Hot Cocoa. Whether you're in New York, Chicago, or Austin, gourmet hot cocoa is a great way to warm up -- here are some of the best cups of liquid heaven across the country. Best 'Main Street' Shopping Districts in All 50 States. Here are 50 great places to shop while enjoying small town scenery, setting, people, and pace, all far, far away from crowded, chaotic megamalls. 10 Stores With Strict Return Policies. Some retailers are more forgiving about returns during the holiday season, but these 10 stores have strict return policies every shopper should know. 13 Stores With Amazing Return Policies. Holiday shopping is stressful enough without having to worry about returning an item. These 13 stores offer generous return policies -- and peace of mind. 11 Inexpensive Winter Cruises to Sunny Destinations. Winter can be exactly the right season to land a huge bargain on a getaway cruise to someplace warm and sunny like the Bahamas or Puerto Vallarta. 8 Ways to Give to Charity and Get a Tax Break for 2016. Tax-deductible donations to charity pay off personally and financially. Here are eight tips for claiming tax savings in 2016. 15 Inexpensive Ways to Make Overnight Holiday Guests Feel at Home. A few minor touches such as slippers and extra towels can make a huge difference in the comfort level of overnight holiday guests -- and their hosts.

50 Easy Ways to Save at the Grocery Store

From clipping coupons to using cash-back apps to knowing which foods to avoid, savvy shoppers employ many tactics to reduce grocery bills. With an ever-growing array of tempting foods to impulsively add to your shopping cart, learning tips and tricks to streamline your shopping experience is essential to maintaining a healthy budget. These 50 practices will help keep the cost of groceries in check.

Visiting brand websites or online coupon aggregators can be a quick way to find special deals and discounts on specific products. Many of these coupons can be used alongside store coupons, boosting overall savings.

Most grocery stores have weekly circulars that advertise the items currently on sale. Reduce the cost of each shopping trip by using the ads to plan menus and build a shopping list around low-cost items.

Some supermarket websites offer deals and coupons that don't appear in the weekly circulars. Visiting the website takes only a few minutes and can result in deeper discounts from places you already shop.

When advertised sale items are out of stock or unavailable, store managers can authorize discounts on comparable products, so it pays to get to know them. Friendly store managers can also help steer shoppers to the best deals.

Designing dishes based on the cheapest produce available is kind of like a personal "Iron Chef" or "Chopped" challenge. It can help reduce spending while encouraging creativity and ensuring nutritious meals.

Frozen foods last longer and are generally cheaper than fresh foods. Confine fresh foods to uncooked dishes like salads, and look to their frozen counterparts when the ingredients will be cooked in dishes such as soups, lasagna, and pies.

Each week, go through supermarket ads with a fine-tooth comb in search of items you use regularly and load up on those staples while they're on sale. In addition to shelf-stable foods and household goods, stock up on discounted produce and meats that can be canned or frozen for later.

Chains stores frequently carry their own versions of popular packaged foods, including cookies, cereal, dairy, and more. In many cases, store-brand products contain the same ingredients and offer the same quality for as little as a third of the price. Consumers who opt for store brands save an estimated $44 billion a year, according to a study by the nonprofit National Bureau of Economic Research.

Every store has its specialty. One market may carry quality fruit and vegetables at bargain prices, while another offers good deals on meat. Tracking your spending for a month or two may help reveal which stores have the lowest prices on frequently used items.

Stores rarely make it easy to compare prices from product to product, listing the cost per pound for one item and the price per ounce on another. Using a calculator -- most phones have one -- can make it easier to figure out which product is the best value.

If the cart looks empty, it's easy to assume you're forgetting something, or might not have enough food for the week. To keep from buying extra items that weren't on the shopping list, use a basket or smaller cart to focus attention on just the essentials.

On an empty stomach, everything in the store seems appetizing, especially high-priced prepared foods and snacks. Eating just before going shopping can help you make smart and economical choices without being distracted by hunger pangs.

While it's nice to get the entire family involved in meal preparation, shopping trips can be tedious with one or more kids begging for expensive and unhealthy items. If they do come along, stick to a rule of only one extra item per shopping trip to set realistic expectations and not overspend.

In many stores it's now mandatory to bring your own bags, or else incur a fee per plastic or paper bag. Other stores offer a discount of a few cents for shoppers who bring bags. This money-saving habit is also good for the environment.

A lower price is just one of the many benefits of buying dried beans instead of pre-cooked canned beans. Dried beans last longer on the shelf than canned beans while taking up less space. They yield a better texture when cooked and come free of additives like salt and chemical preservatives.

Does your state require deposits on plastic and glass bottles? Instead of tossing them into the recycle bin, collect them in a reusable shopping bag and return them for a refund on the next trip to the store.

There are no federal laws governing the sale of expired food (except baby formula), but no store wants to sell food past its recommended date. Shoppers can get discounts even on shelf-stable goods like pasta, dried soup mixes, and canned sauces with looming expiration dates. These are often fine to use weeks or even months after the date on the package has passed.

An annual membership to a warehouse club such as Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's costs $55 or less but offers wholesale pricing on many staples. If used regularly for household items like paper products, grains, and cooking oil, membership can bring big savings.

Foods with less processing, such as whole fruits and vegetables, offer a lot of nutrition per serving and cost less than their chopped and packaged counterparts. Even when using organic produce, a whole-food diet can be less costly than relying on processed foods.

The prices of ready-to-eat salads and sandwiches, and even frozen pizzas, reflect the labor that went into their preparation. The same dish made from the same quality ingredients costs less to prepare yourself.

Although grocery stores carry household products like shampoo, lotion, and over-the-counter medicine, those items are often less expensive elsewhere. When shopping at the supermarket, stick to food for the best prices.

Buying pre-cut veggies, pre-washed greens, or ears of corn that already have the husks removed may save a few minutes in the kitchen, but that convenience will cost you. Slice and dice produce yourself instead of reaching for ready-to-go packages.

Many stores have free loyalty programs that offer members extra savings. When out of town or shopping at a unfamiliar chain, ask the cashier to swipe a store card to apply any available discounts. Many checkers are happy to comply with such requests.

Sometimes a packet of cheese or a bag of lettuce is past its prime, even though it is within the expiration date. Don't hesitate to take it back to the store and exchange it for a product in good condition or get a refund.

Most stores still have scales in the produce section that allow customers to weigh fruits and vegetables. Checking the weight before checking out can take the guesswork out of the cost and help keep you on budget.

The deli counter usually offers the lowest prices on cold cuts because the store buys the meat in bulk, passing on the savings to customers. Prepackaged cold cuts come with the added price of the packaging, plus the labor that goes into the packaging.

Buying whole birds and large cuts of meat can yield the same amount and quality of meat for less money. Learning how to do some light butchering and cook with whole poultry can save money and add confidence in the kitchen.

Large and colorful displays are designed to attract buyers to something they might not otherwise buy. Sometimes the items are on sale, but typically the displays market brand-name products best avoided when trying to save.

Bottled water is more expensive than tap water, and even buying gallon jugs can add significantly to the grocery bill. If the quality of tap water is an issue, consider using a water filter or buying 5-gallon jugs to refill during each trip to the store.

Even when buying in bulk, items that come individually wrapped typically cost more, in part because of the extra packaging. Rather than purchasing 100 individually wrapped cookie packs, use snack-size bags to package cookies from a larger bag or box.

Take advantage of rebate offers, which typically require mailing in a proof of purchase to receive money back. Companies offer attractive discounts to encourage people to buy and count on most not following through on the rebate. Those who do reap the benefit.

Out-of-season produce has to travel from far away, and the shipping costs get passed on to the consumer. Many fruits and vegetables have a short season during which they are inexpensive and readily available. While the supply is plentiful, stores lower prices to move their inventory of perishable products.

Herb plants such as basil rarely cost more than twice their one-use, prepackaged counterparts. This renewable source of herbs pays for itself in no time, especially when considering that fresh herbs are some of the most expensive items pound for pound.